As we approach the final part of the financial year, it’s a great time to look at your marketing budget and see how to make the best use of what remains. Did you meet all of the goals in your marketing budget template or do you need to reassess some areas of your spending?
If you don’t use up your budget, it’s likely that you’ll see it cut next year so that sensible decision to put aside some of your budget for potential emergencies may not do you any favours in the long run. If you’ve saved for unexpected expenses and now need to spend your remaining budget in order to keep it in future years, we can help you to identify the best marketing strategies and tools to engage your customers and team members and get the most benefit from your investment.
Marketing managers have to make smart decisions about their total marketing budget and it can be tricky to decide how to allocate funds for your marketing efforts. Industry specific promotional merchandise is a fantastic way to invest in your brand reach and can help to increase morale and team loyalty amongst your employees, raising the profile of your business across your target audience.
Making the most of your marketing budget
Making great decisions about where to invest your marketing budget begins with doing a thorough marketing budget breakdown and identifying where your remaining money will be best spent. Promotional products or company branded products are one of the most effective forms of advertising and we can help you to identify where you can use them across your marketing platforms to build engagement and enhance brand recognition. Promotional merchandise can form a key part of employee reward and recognition programmes, as well as providing opportunities to build connections at trade shows, corporate events and in gift bags. Each marketing campaign will use promotional products in a different way, and our marketing team can help you to get it right every time.
Choosing the right promotional products can make all the difference in the success of your marketing strategies, and making choices that align with the ethos and values of your business will ensure that you stand out from the crowd for all the right reasons. Talk to us about your promotional products marketing budget and we will help you to create the maximum impact for your money.
Promotional products make a lasting impact
Promotional products are most popular when they are useful as well as attractive, and almost 9 out of 10 people will hold onto a promotional product for more than a year while 4 out 10 will keep promotional items for more than 10 years (source: Sellers Commerce). It is important to consider the ethical implications of your promotional marketing decisions as well, since consumers are more influenced by environmental factors than ever before. Choosing intentional and meaningful products for your promotional range will show that your business is an ethical one, making responsible decisions for the planet as well as your marketing budgets.
Our eco friendly promotional merchandise includes drink ware and home products made from recycled materials, as well as clothing made from organic and recycled fabrics and products that are reusable and therefore much more sustainable than disposable or single use items. There are options for all promotional budgets, and you can be sure that your loyal customers will appreciate your ethical stance.
Practical promotional merchandise increases brand awareness
Practical products top the popularity charts when it comes to choosing your promotional products, and we have a great range to choose from. Selecting a product that is likely to be reached for again and again will increase feelings of positivity and keep your brand at front of mind. Studying promotional marketing trends gives you a great insight into the minds of your target audience, and you can ensure that the product choices you make are in line with this research. For instance, if you are focusing on extremely cost effective promotions, gifting promotional items such as pens and mobile phone chargers can be a great option as it means your products will be used throughout the day and your brand exposure will be optimised.
In the current climate, outerwear is topping the popularity charts in the promotional marketing stakes and this demonstrates that the combination of style and practicality works. Research shows that outerwear promotional products generate 7,856 impressions over their lifetime, the most impressions among all promotional products, and this is a truly impressive figure that you can make use of to capitalise on your promotional marketing initiatives (source: Sellers Commerce).
Pick promotional items that complement your brand
Your promotional gifts should reflect your brand ethos and values and you should always ensure that your branded merchandise is relevant to your brand identity. Your marketing budget template should include an analysis of your existing promotional strategies that evaluates how they are working for you, and an honest appraisal of how your marketing spend could be more effective. Most companies find that their corporate gifts and other promotional products are not in alignment with their brand message and this is an easy area to make improvements in.
If you are a sports company, for instance, your selection of branded merchandise could include products such as sports bottles, branded clothing and wireless EarPods, which are a great fit for a client base that is active and engaged in the sporting world. Products such as pens and tote bags are not likely to be as successful with this sort of audience, and would be better suited to a recruitment or office based business, perhaps as trade show giveaways. More experienced companies that make use of professional advice to direct their marketing spend their budget more effectively and become market leaders by making strategic choices here.
Connect Promotions can help you reach your marketing goals
Whatever your marketing budget, we can help you to make the most of it. Whether you are planning a specific marketing campaign or want to build a strong brand identity through implementing a range of office supplies or employee uniforms branded with your company logo, we take a business focused approach to ensure your remaining marketing budget is spent wisely. We can work with you on strategies to draw in more customers and reward your loyal employees for their hard work.
Trade show giveaways and corporate events are great ideas for optimising your marketing objectives and your brand image and we can provide support from conceptualising your company merchandise to delivering it to your workplace or to your events worldwide. The promotional product industry is our speciality, so we know what works and what doesn’t, and we can partner with you to make your marketing budget work harder for your business. Talk to us today to find out more.
Darren Desmond is a dedicated and hard-working Senior Account Manager with over 20 years of industry experience. Known for his commitment to client satisfaction, Darren has a proven track record of delivering exceptional results. His passion for fostering strong client relationships is matched by his enthusiasm for continuous learning and professional growth.
Outside of work, Darren enjoys spending time with his family, walking, and watching rugby. An ex-rower, he avidly follows Irish athletes in their pursuit of medals and has a keen interest in various sports.
